Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the second plenary session of the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 8, 2026. Cai called on the country's sci-tech workers to stay committed to serving the country through sci-tech innovation and embrace the mission of achieving greater sci-tech self-reliance and strength. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Cai Qi called on the country's sci-tech workers to stay committed to serving the country through sci-tech innovation and embrace the mission of achieving greater sci-tech self-reliance and strength on Wednesday.

Cai, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing the second plenary session of the 11th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology in Beijing.

Cai stressed that the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) marks not only a critical stage for laying a solid foundation and going all out to basically achieve China's socialist modernization, but also an important phase for tackling tough challenges to build China into a world-leading nation in science and technology.

He expressed the hope that the sci-tech workers will stay true to the calling of serving the nation through science and technology, embrace the mission of achieving greater sci-tech self-reliance and strength, lead social progress, advance openness and cooperation, and carry forward the fine tradition of using science to serve the country and its people.

He also required sci-tech associations at all levels to strengthen ideological guidance, better align their work with the country's overall development priorities, and deepen institutional reform to extend service coverage to emerging sectors.